The Pittsburgh Pirates finally went to work on the bullpen ahead of the trade deadline, landing right-handed reliever Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees in a deal that cost them two prospects.
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Pirates acquired Doval, while Francys Romero reported that catcher Omar Alfonzo and outfielder Luis Cruz are going back to New York. Alfonzo ranks 17th in the Pirates’ farm system per MLB Pipeline and is currently in Double-A Altoona. Cruz is 18 and playing in the Dominican Summer League.
This is Pittsburgh’s first trade of the deadline season, but it’s not the first bullpen addition they’ve made in recent weeks. The club also brought in left-hander Brandon Eisert from the Chicago White Sox on July 10; he is now at Triple-A Indianapolis. On July 23, the Pirates added right-hander Ron Marinaccio from the Yankees in exchange for international signing bonus money, and he is with the team now.
Doval gives Pittsburgh a proven late-inning arm with closing experience. He has 109 saves in 138 chances, with most of that work coming during his time with the San Francisco Giants from 2021-25. His biggest year came in 2023, when he led the National League with 39 saves.
This season with the Yankees, Doval went 3-1 in 44 appearances and posted a 4.54 ERA over 39.2 innings. He struck out 39 and walked 18, while allowing a .250 batting average against and carrying a 1.41 WHIP.
In Other News...
Pirates May Have Found A Trade Path For Bullpen Help
The Pirates search for bullpen help may be getting a little clearer as the trade market starts to take shape, and the Texas Rangers are suddenly part of the conversation. After a rough stretch, Texas has let other clubs know that no player is entirely off-limits, which opens the door for teams like Pittsburgh to at least explore ways to add depth without paying premium prices.
For the Pirates, the appeal appears to be in the Rangers relief mix rather than the headline names. Peyton Gray and Tyler Alexander have both put together solid seasons, and they fit the kind of lower-cost path Pittsburgh would likely have to pursue. The bigger-ticket Rangers pieces remain a different matter, with players such as Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi not expected to be available to a club like Pittsburgh. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates May Have Found A Bullpen Arm Worth Watching Closely
The Pirates got a first look at Doval almost immediately after acquiring him from the Yankees on Saturday, and the right-hander was in uniform and on the mound by Sunday. Pittsburgh brought him into the mix against the Reds, giving the bullpen a fresh arm to evaluate in a game that offered an early glimpse of how he might fit into Don Kellys relief plans.
Dovals first outing with his new club was a mixed one, as he gave up a solo homer but otherwise worked through the inning with authority. Kelly and Doval both addressed what the appearance meant for his role moving forward, and for a Pirates bullpen that is always looking for someone who can give it a little more late-game stability. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Bullpen Pressure Just Grew For Ben Cherington At Deadline
The bullpen market moved a little faster than the Pirates did, and that matters in Pittsburgh with the deadline in the rearview. Chicago landed right-handed reliever Huascar Brazobn from the Mets, a name the Pirates had shown interest in, underscoring how quickly relief help can come off the board when multiple clubs are chasing the same arms. For a team still trying to sort out the late innings, it was another reminder that patience alone is not going to fix the problem.
Ben Cherington is still searching for answers, and the pressure around the Pirates bullpen has only grown as the club continues to look at other possibilities. Luke Weaver and Brooks Raley remain among the targets being explored, but the broader issue is familiar by now: Pittsburgh needs more certainty in relief, and every missed opportunity only sharpens the focus on the general manager to deliver something that actually steadies the group. [Read more 🡒]